The Color of Suffering | AOT

●Trials and Tribulations● part 2

The sun bathed everything in golden light, the air crisp and fresh—the kind of day that could almost make you forget the weight of the world we lived in. I was mid-conversation with Mikasa, who hung to my left, as we both hovered in the air during the aptitude test.

Mikasa, of course, was steady as stone, perfectly balanced with an unshakable calm. It was like nothing could move her, not even the wind.

I, on the other hand, swayed slightly from side to side, but I wasn’t worried. The feeling was oddly familiar, as if I’d been here before. It was a good day—maybe ev—

"Yaeger! What is your major malfunction? straignten yourself up!"

Keith’s voice cut through my thoughts like a whip. I looked to my right, and there was Eren—hanging upside-down. not that I expected eren to be perfect at everything, but... this? this was terrible.

Eren’s face was frozen in shock, his wide eyes betraying disbelief as the other cadets stared, some snickering. Each second weighed heavier, his expression shifting from surprise to frustration.

I wanted to rush to him, shield him from their eyes, but I knew better. Eren was strong—this wouldn’t break him. He’d rise again, like always. But seeing him like this, even for a moment, made it hard to breathe.

As everyone headed to dinner, Eren stayed behind, determined to master the gear. Mikasa gave him solid advice, and even Armin chimed in. I tried to convince him to eat first, telling him he’d do better with a full stomach, but Eren’s stubborn determination wouldn’t budge. As always, he pushed forward, refusing to back down.

And that's how we ended up here-Eren headfirst in the dirt.

"Here, let me," I said gently, bandaging his head. He didn't respond, shock etching his features as if the world had just collapsed around him. I nudged him softly toward the mess hall, Mikasa and Armin trailing behind.

I settled next to Eren, stealing glances at him. He was still lost in thought. mikasa, sitting on his left, squeezed his shoulder firmly, pulling him back from his daze. Armin, always the empathetic one, broke the silence. "Worrying won't change anything. You still have time to practice."

But Eren's expression didn't shift."How pathetic... how am I supposed to kill 'em if I can't even stand up straight?"

I noticed Mikasa about to say something, but I sensed it wouldn't do any good. Before she could speak, I chimed in, "armin's right. You still have time. You can't lose hope, not now."

Eren, dumbfounded, exclaimed, "You saw me out there! I don’t know how it can do that. At this rate, I won’t be able to join the Scouts!" He was panting, frustration etched on his face.

I flicked his forehead hard, noticing his eyes welling with tears. “listen to me, eren,” I said, my voice steady. “You are the most determined person I know. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and just get back up. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about grit. There’s no other choice. You can’t afford to let this defeat you.”

I leaned closer, my gaze locking onto his. “You want to protect everyone, to fight for our freedom. Use that fire inside you. You’ve faced worse challenges than this, and you’ve come out stronger every time. So dig deep, push through the pain, and show everyone why you deserve to be a scout. I believe in you, and I know you can do this.”

Eren, now calmer, was about to say something when the bell interrupted him. I stood up and called out to Sasha at the next table, “Hey, you can finish my meal!” I could practically see the spark in her eyes as she sprinted over, excitement written all over her face. “You’re the best! Thank you, thank you!” I gave her a quick pat on the head.